Expansion joint



Juhe 9, 1942. F. R. SMITH JIEXPANSION JOINT 2 SheetsShet 1 Filed March 18, 1940 Q 1120922507": fZom E. 5M/

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June 9, 1942. F. Rz-SMITH EXPANSIONJOINT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Eiled March 18, 1940 Patented June9, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l nxrszi z zomr Q I Floyd R. Smith, Wilkinsburg, Pa.

Application March 18, 1940, Serial N0. 324,726

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in expansion joints for bridge floors, pavements and other structures wherein it is desired to, span and seal the requisite space between relatively movable portions of such structures.

Considerable dimculty has been encountered heretofore in structures of the character stated, in effecting a proper seal at the expansion joint against the ingress of moisture, such as surface water. Since both steel and concrete are deteriorated by continued wetting, the protection of such structures at their hearing andother vital points becomes a very essential consideration in regard to construction as well as maintenance.

Also,*in bridge structures crossing over public property zmoisture is a hazard when permitted to fall through floor joints upon persons or property therebeneath.

It is a prime object of my invention to provide an expansion joint for structures of the character stated, having proper load-supporting qualities and pi'oviding a complete, economical and simple seal against the entrance of surface water to the joint and the parts connected thereby.

My. invention contemplates positioning and maintaining a plastic moisture-proof seal in an expansion joint for such structures, and provides a construction which is readily fabricated and applied, and one which may be easily serviced in use.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of the expansion joint of my invention applied to a bridge floor;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of 1 Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 2, showing the joint applied to other floor structures;

Figure 6 is a similar view of .a pavement embodying the invention; and,

Figure 7 is a detail view of a further modificanormally spaced apart as shown-at 3, for relative movement of expansion and contraction longitudinally thereof. My invention has to do with the provision of an expansion joint for spanning and sealing .the separation between the slabs.

The adjacent ends of the portions or slabs A and B are each provided with framing members which may be applied when the slabs are poured. For example, 4 and 5 are reversed angles extending along and throughout the transverse face or edge'of the slab Abeing joined along their meeting vertical legs as by riveting, both angles preferably having their horizontal flanges extending within the slab and the lower angle 4 being welded to the beams 2 supporting said slab, as shown in Figure 2.

Similarly, the face or edge of the slab B is framed by angles 6 and I, the angles Sand I being disposed at different elevations to provide anchorages or seats for the expansion joint plates. The angles 4 to I, inclusive, may be provided with anchor straps a embedded in the concrete ofthe slabs for securing said angles.

8 designates an expansion joint plate extending horizontally along the joint transversely or the slabs and secured to the angle 5 by spaced bolts or screws 9. A second horizontal plate It! is secured to the angle 1 of slab B by screws II, the plate l0 being thereby disposed .at a greater elevation than the plate 8 and overlapping the latter for sliding contact therewith. s

The plates 8 and I0 extend substantially throughout the transverse width of the slabs, and have their contacting faces ea/ch provided with a complemental horizontal recess l2 intermediate the overlapping portions of said plates, the said recesses extending substantially throughout the length of the said plates. The recesses [2 are preferably of a width in the direction of relative movement of the slabs and joint greater than the maximum movement thereof, to insure communication between said recesses at all times.

Also, the portions l3 of the overlapping plates 8 and I0 beyond their recesses I! are preferably of sufiicient dimension in the direction of movement of the slabs and joint, whereby the recesses the slabs and joint.

For the purpose of sealing the joint against moisture, I prefer to fill the recesses I2 with a common body' of a plasticrsealing material, such as petroleum jelly or the like, whereby the joint is effectively closed, the sealing composition preventing the drainage of moisture between the recesses.

plates 8 and Ill into the space 3 and the material .of and support for the slabs A and B.

Another suitable material or composition for filling the recesses I2 is disclosed in my copending application of even date, Serial No. 324,725 which composition is particularly adapted to remain plastic at atmospheric temperature extremes.

It will be noted that the body [4 is of sufficient depth to extend transversely through the plane of the contacting faces of the plates 8 and 9. 'For proper sealing action, the recess I2 of the roll plate is completely filled and excess material extends into the recess of the upper plate preferably also filling the latter. Hence, the plastic material is maintained at all times in the .plane of contact between the plates and the sealing action of said material is unaffected by slight losses of material or the expansion or contraction thereof.

To minimize the tendency of the plates to shear and separate or stratify the plastic body I4, I prefer to oppositely incline adjacent longitudinal edge faces of the recesses l2 as shown, said inclination being in the direction of movement of the plates and functioning to produce an vinterflow of the plastic material between recesses instead of shearing the same.

Suitable means are provided at the outer ends of the recesses l2 to retain the composition l4 therein during movement of the joint. For example, I have shown end plates l5 disposed in the ends of each recess, said plates sliding upon each other in the plane of contact of the joint plates 8 and Ill (see Figure 3) to maintain the ends of the recesses closed against loss of the plastic material.

For the purpose of introducing the plastic composition to the recesses I2, the upper plate In may be provided with spaced service openings l6 closed by removable plugs, whereby the composition may be forced into the recesses under pressure, or, by the application of pressure to one of the openings, old 'material may be forced out of a spaced opening from which the plug has been removed. The openings I6 further provide a means for inspection to determine the condition of the composition contained in said Said openings have particular utility andadvantage where the joint is normally covered by ballast, as in railroadbridges.

In the bridge construction of Figures 1 to 3, I

I1 designates a raised concrete sidewalk mounted on and movable with the slabs A and B along the sides thereof, and having joint plates I8 at the ends of the concrete sidewalk.

Figure 4 illustrates my invention incorporated in a shallow floor construction, wherein the expansion plate 8 is welded directly to the beams 2 of its slab, and the overlapping plate II) is bolted to a bearing plate [9 welded to the beams 2 of the other slab. Further, in order that the joint may be smooth and level, a supplemental plate 20 is employed in spaced relation to the free edge of plate 10. The plate 20 is welded to the plate 8 and a second body 2| of the plastic material is applied between the edges of the said plates HI- and 20 to seal the variable space therebetween. If desired, one or both of the said edges of-the plates l0 and 20 may be tapered downwardly as shown at 22 for better retention of the material 2|.

Figure 5 shows a further modification of the construction in Figures 1 to 3, wherein single framing angles 5 and 1 are employed, the slab A being a deck slab and the portion B being an abutment or foundation member.

Figure 6 illustrates the embodiment of my invention in a concrete pavement, the construction being generally similar to that of Figure 4. In such a construction, the plates 8 and it! are anchored in their respective slabs A and B by the anchor bars a secured thereto, and supplemental member 20 and the additional plastic body 2| is employed as before, whereby to provide a smooth joint construction.

Figure 7 illustrates a further modification wherein a recess I2 is formed in only the upper superimposed expansion plate l0. By introducing a plastic composition M as before, the same is disposed in the plane of contact of the plates 8 and ill to thereby seal the joint. The ends of the said recess may be closed by end plates [5 as before. By such construction, the plastic material gravitates to maintain a seal at all times regardless of expansion and contraction of and described in Figure 2 and have been correspondingly designated on the drawings.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided an expansion joint which readily spans the spacing between relatively movable members for loadbearing purposes, and in addition, I have provided a simple, eificient and durable seal for preventing the ingress of moisture to the joint and the parts connected thereby.

The-introduction and use of the plastic sealing composition serves to seal and to afford a certain degree of lubrication for the joint and its parts during movement thereof with the slabs, due to capillary action.

Various changes and modifications are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

1. In an expansion joint construction for roadways and the like, the combination including a pair of spaced paving sections, a member secured to one of the sections and bridging thespace between the sections, a member secured to the other section, said members being disposed in contacting overlapping relation and extending transversely of the direction of relative movement of the sections, said members having communicating recesses in the overlapping portions of their contacting faces extendingsubstantial- -ly throughout the. length of said members and having a dimension in the direction of movement of the sections greater than said movement, and a common body of a plastic sealing composition in said recesses-extending transversely. through the plane of said faces.

2. In an expansion joint construction for roadways and the like, the combination including a. pair of spaced paving sections, a member secured to one of the sections and bridging the space between the sections, a member secured to the other section, said members being disposed in contacting overlapping relation and extending transversely of the direction of relative movement of the sections, said members having communicating recesses in the overlapping portions of their contacting faces extending substantially throughout the length of said members and having a dimension in the direction ,of movement of the sections. greater than said movement, the overlapping portions of the members extending beyond the recesses having a dimension in the'direction of such movement greater than said movement, whereby the recesses are not uncovered by expansion movement of the sections, and a common body of a plastic sealing compositiontherein of sufllcient depth to extend transversel through the plane of said faces.

3. In an expansion joint construction for roadways and the like, the combination including a pair of spaced paving sections, a member secured to one of the sections and bridging the space between the sections, a member secured to the other section, said members being disposed in contacting overlapping relation and extending transversely of the direction of relative movement of the sections, said members having communicating recesses in the overlapping portions of their contacting faces extending substantially throughout the length of said members, a common body of a plastic sealing composition therein, and overlapping plates in the outer ends of the recesses for closure thereof during movement h of the. sections.

4. In an expansion joint construction for road- -ways and the like, the combination including a pair of spaced paving sections, a member secured to one of the sections and bridging the space between the sections, a member secured to the other section, said members being disposed in overlapping relation and having contacting faces, the upper member having a recess in its contacting face extending transversely of the direction of relative movement of the sections and closed ing overlapping relation and extending transversely of the horizontal movement of said sections, said members having communicating recesses in the overlapping portions of their contacting faces extending substantially throughout the length of said members, and a common body of plastic sealing composition in said recesses, said plastic body having a depth exceeding that of the recess in the lower member.

7. In an expansion joint construction for roadways and the like, the combination including a pair of spaced paving sections, a member secured to one of the sections and bridging the space beby the other member, a body of plastic sealing transversely of the direction of relative move- 'ment of the sections, said members having communicating recesses in the overlapping portions of their contacting faces extending substantial- 1y throughout the length of said members, acommon body of plastic sealing composition in said recesses, a supplemental plate spaced from and in the plane of the uppermost overlapping member, and a second body of plastic composition disposed between the said spaced member and plate.

6. In a horizontal expansion joint construction for roadways and the like, the combination including a pair of relatively movable spaced roadway sections, a plate member secured to one of the sections and bridging the space between the sections, a plate member secured to the other section, said members being disposed in contacttween the sections, a member secured to the other section, said members being disposed in overlapping relation and having contacting faces, the upper member having a recess in its contacting face extending transversely of the direction of movement of the sections and closed by the other member, said upper member having an access opening therein communicating with the recess, and a body of plastic sealing composition in the recess for sealing engagement with the contacting face of the other member.

8. In anexpansion joint construction for road- 1 ways and the like, the combination including a pair of spaced paving sections, a member secured to one of thesections and bridging the space between the sections, a member secured to the other section, said members being disposedin contacting overlapping relation and extending transversely of the direction of relative movement of the sections, said members having com- 'municating recesses in the overlapping portions "of their contacting faces extending substantially throughout the length of said members, and a common body of a palstic sealing composition therein extending transversely through the plane of said faces, the adjacent longitudinal edge faces of the recesses being oppositely inclined in,

the direction of movement of the sections.

9. In an expansion joint construction, aapair i of spaced relatively movable plate members adapted to span a joint space, said members being disposed in overlapping relation and having .contacting faces, the upper member having a recess in its contacting face extending transverse 6 1y of the direction of relative movement of the members and closed by the lower member, and a body of plastic sealing composition in the recess for sealing engagement with the lower member.

'10. In an expansion joint construction, the combination including a pair of spaced relatively movable plate members adapted to span a joint space, said members being disposed in contacting overlapping relation and having communicating recesses in the overlapping portions of their contacting faces extending transversely of the direction of relative movementof said members, and a common body of a plastic sealing composition therein through the plane of said faces.

new asm'rn.

extending transversely 

